Where do you start with a film as extraordinary as this? … [Read more...]
Pitch Black (2000) review by That Film Guy
Before Vin Diesel was known for his super-camp driving exploits in The Fast and the Furious he broke through into the mainstream in the David Twohy-directed science fiction action film Pitch Black. … [Read more...]
The Grandmaster (2013, Hong Kong) review by That Art House Guy
Wong Kar Wai is a legend of Hong Kong cinema, his reputation established by movies such as In The Mood For Love and Chungking Express. These films are remarkable for their unique visual aesthetic, all neon and rain, and for their atmosphere of melancholy and yearning. But Wong's last couple of films have been misfires “ the uneven sci fi of 2046 and the unsuccessful foray into … [Read more...]
Byzantium (2013) review by That Film Guy
The vampire genre has undergone something of a transformation in recent years. With the advent of the ridiculously popular Twilight series, we've moved away from the passionate, bloodthirsty melodrama of the past, toward a more friendly, bloodless, teenage angst love story. So most films now either have to tackle the Twilight films head on, or avoid them like the plague. In the … [Read more...]
Mud (2012) review by That Film Guy
Matthew McConaughey's resurgence and reinvention in acting continues in the Jeff Nichols-directed Mud. Not content with impressing in the likes of The Paperboy, Killer Joe and Magic Mike, he once again dons his sweaty white shirt to play the titular Mud, a man on the run for murder who befriends two boys Ellis (Tye Sheridan) and Neckbone (Jacob Lofland) and through them … [Read more...]
Slap Shot (1977) review That Film Guy
In the documentary The Last Gladiators, which follows the career of former Montreal Canadiens ˜goon' Chris Nilan, the film Slap Shot is described as ˜the ultimate ice hockey fight film' and that's exactly what it is. Veteran player Reg Dunlop (Paul Newman) coaches the small town team of the Charlestown Chiefs during another disappointing season. Booed by what little fans they … [Read more...]
RIPD (2013) review by That Film Guy
Boston Police Departments Nick Walker (Ryan Reynolds) and his partner Bobby Hayes (Kevin Bacon) have recently found a horde of gold on a bust and decided to keep it. Nick has reservations and decides he's going to hand it in, but is killed in action on another bust. Discovering that there is an afterlife he is drafted into the RIPD (Rest in Peace Department) by Mildred Proctor … [Read more...]
One Direction: This is Us (2013) review by That Film Guy
The rising global phenomenen that is One Direction (Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, Liam Payne and Harry Styles) has quickly made it to the cinema in this glorified show-reel-cum-concert film, in the obligatory 3D of course. What is surprising is that its director is Morgan Spurlock, a man most famous for his McDonalds-crippling documentary Super Size Me. Under his … [Read more...]
The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones (2013) review by That Film Brat
Every since Harry Potter ended, there's been a big scramble to take the title of 'massive teen movie franchise that makes ridiculous amounts of money regardless of quality'. Twilight is obviously the series that snatched up that crown very quickly, but they made the mistake of making the majority of the series before Harry Potter released so it was only around for a few years … [Read more...]
The Factory (2012) review by That Art House Guy
I have this strange compulsion. It happens when I'm tired “ maybe on an aeroplane, or browsing Netflix on a plan-free Saturday. What happens is, I see a John Cusack movie (generally a thriller) from the last couple of years, that I haven't really heard of and I think Yeah, that could be ok “ I'll give it a go. Experience has taught me that this is a mistake, but still I … [Read more...]